Devonne, why does Caleb scream?

Sandra, the xs is by Nikki Boemme, not sure if I spelled it right. I got the chart from Charting Creations and used Pattern Keeper to maintain my so called sanity. It does have a Kinkade look to it- is he still around?

Back again.  We lost power about 2 AM; lightning was the culprit this time.  Very nice crew from Iowa was here about 8 AM and we were back up and running by 9.  Whew!  Some people still don't have power.  Day 11 for them.  Our power company apparently spent $800 million for mobile generators.  Hmmm, they have to be assembled which takes days, and they have to have a special permit to move them which also takes days. 

I called the city to get the storm debris picked up.  It would cost us another $500 to do it privately, after the $1000 we've spent getting the trees cut down.  We don't need to dip into savings any more than we already have.  I took pictures of all of the piles on the street.  The city will only allow me to call in my property.  Every single homeowner has to make their own call.  If the truck shows up to get mine, do they just leave everyone else's if they haven't had a service request?  It took nearly 3 months after Harvey with the debris sitting on the lawn, and I really don't want to have to replace the grass again.  We're all tired of this.  

Mary Lou, such great news about Lynn.  

Sandra, I'm glad your hip feels better.  Sometimes we just don't know how we tweaked something.  As for your casseroles, can you portion them out and freeze some for later use?  That's what I've been doing, and it really does help.  It's nice to grab a container of Judy's wonderful mac 'n cheese to nuke while I'm broiling some hamburger patties or baking fish fillets.  Or to just pop a chicken casserole into the microwave while steaming some vegetables.  

Holly, your cross-stitch is beautiful.  How do you block it and get it ready for framing? 

I think Thomas Kincaid died a few years ago.  I always liked his work.  

Devonne, good luck with the grandkids.  As for your HOA, I can say from long experience that there are times when some process may be underway with a homeowner, but privacy laws prevent disclosure of what is being done.  Every organization is different, though, so sometimes it's just the culture of the group in charge.  I'm not happy with the way mine is going, but if I speak up too much, I'm going to find myself back on the board, and that's not something I want to do right now.  

Wow, my eyes are hurting.  The trees blocked the afternoon sun since they were on the west side of the house.  It's a lot brighter without them.  Glen keeps talking about how he misses them.  Well, I do too, but we'll get used to it.  I'm also tired of hearing about all of the food he threw out.  It wasn't that much; I'm guessing around $50-$60 worth.  Some people lost hundreds of dollars worth, so I'm feeling thankful it wasn't worse.  

Sorry to be crabby.  The Astros summer camp that I was in charge of didn't happen because my boss cannot attend to details.  So, I'm severely disappointed about that on top of everything else.  I'll take my bad attitude and go eat some intense chocolate ice cream.  That'll make me feel better, LOL. 
 

Last edited by Needlecrazy (7/18/2024 4:46 pm)

Holly, we don't have to take bags to stores. At Aldi, I use one of their cardboard boxes. Publix did give me a bag when they opened our new store. I doubt I will use it. Walmart still uses plastic bags, but there's a year long rumor that is ending and you will have to buy your own bag. 

Caleb doesn't seem frustrated, but who knows? Last year he didn't like school and when I asked why, he said he didn't want to learn. I told him that's how you get smarter and learn about the world. This year his attitude is different and he is looking forward for school to start. Caleb is 7 and Sadie Grace is 5. Sadie Grace is a talker; she talks constantly. I would love to know how many questions they have asked me about Trump and why that happened. One of her questions was "is the shooter still dead, lol?" They have enjoyed their visit, but will be going home today.

I have been a teacher while they were here and taught Caleb what USA means and how many states we have. Their parents work all the time and they don't spend enough time with them.  G&E are more the parents.

Greg and Carter's flight is in the morning to Tuscon. They are taking their golf bags with them. I'm going to meet them for dinner tonight. 

Last edited by DownSouth (7/19/2024 8:28 am)

I understand the crowded freezer, Sandra.  I don't keep much meat in there, particularly at this time of year, because of the ever-present chance of power outages.  

Holly, I use either Michael's or Joann's for custom framing.  Hobby Lobby is okay.  A lot of times I will just leave plenty of canvas and frame it in the next standard size.  Sometimes I just sew some coordinating batik on the edges to make a "mat."  

We had a lovely outing at a house that is part of the Houston Museum of Fine Arts.  These people collected 18th and 19th European art and furniture and donated the entire house and its contents to the museum.  We had a small group tour of the porcelain collection, and it was just so wonderful to see so much beauty all around.  Nothing like having your very own ballroom with display cases!  Then we stopped at a new gelato place.  MMMMM good on a hot day.  Glen said he would take me out for burgers.  I didn't sleep well, and I spent part of the morning trying to deal with downed trees on the esplanade.  I finally gave up and decided the HOA can pay for someone to finish pulling them out, cutting them up, and stacking for the city.  

Here's my front lawn.  I had to make a space so that the paper delivery person has somewhere to put the papers. 

Last edited by Needlecrazy (7/19/2024 3:12 pm)

Good grief CAROL what a mess to clean up, we'll have little of that around here, very strong winds (and very cold LOL ) it's been blowing a gale all day. What a lovely museum to visit. Most of our group are planning to visit Buckingham Palace, I also love  the V & A museum, so nice that these things are being kept to admire

Forget who asked, no we don't wrap, we just dump all the coins into a machine at the bank, the one I usually use the bins were full, so had to go elsewhere, they had a different system, you still dumped, but it printed out a ticket, and then had to go to the teller, usually I just swipe my card and it adds automatically, no charges if it's your own bank, BUT will only take a certain weight, or you do it in 2 lots. Usually somewhere between $65-85.

SANDRA so good to hear you progress on the weight loss, the trick is of course the drinking water, as well as no junk, sounds so easy doesn't it, but when you like food it's not so easy, and I love food!! 

DEVONNE sorry you have had a noisy one for a while, I didn't ever have that problem, lucky!! Hope the guys enjoy their cruise!

HOLLY your XS is beautiful, so peaceful looking!

JANET they use them here too (straws and bags) , I sometimes take one of my own, mostly to our Italian restaurant, the servings are so big I know I'll have leftovers, UNLESS Dean is there, then it's gone, those boys can eat. We take bags everywhere, most places will charge if you want one (clothing stores etc) grocery you have to take them, or buy, or you can take your groceries loose in the trolley and pack into boxes/bags in your car.  I use all different ones, each supermarket has their own, don't care I use other ones as well --  If they want to get me to advertise I'll do it for everyone LOL , we only get those awful paper straws when out, they have them on the bar at the club, I'd rather drink from the glass. McDonalds have thick paper ones, they still disintegrate on the thick shakes. Dean gets them, I don't drink them anyway. I do have some silicone ones and some metal ones here at home.

The Mr is still coughing, he found a script for an inhaler for  COPD so I got it for him yesterday, I've told him he can't come away if he's still coughing, he does feel unwell, I think it's more cold and asthma, but I honestly don't feel sorry for him, he saw his lung Dr on Thursday and took medication so he wouldn't cough while there, and didn't tell him about it, MEN!!!! I want him to change specialists, this one doesn't feel he has COPD ( or at least anything worth treating )  - our Dr and his nurse disagree and Leo had given him this puffer a year ago, and a repeat of the script so I was able to get a new one. 

Nothing else to report - I might try to sew a few blocks, see if anything goes right today!

What a wild 24 hours, outages everywhere, I was at their house, took John to his friends house for a party, then stayed with the NEEDY dogs, they stuck like glue to me LOL I picked up John at 12.30, it was so cold, and he'd had a bit to drink, he's a happy inebriate, he giggled at  things on our way home, he was very glad I picked him up, he was thinking about an Uber, but I kept telling him I didn't mind what time it was, I just wanted him to be safe.

I've been getting things together, found my camera and it's on charge, I'll let W use it. I'll pack lots of SD cards. I also put more money on our travel cards, some Euros and more GBP. Still can't find the pound sign on the iMac - weird, must  be somewhere, I'll have to google. 
Yesterday was a disaster for me at sewing, my temp blocks were completely wrong, they just wouldn't fit, I ended up trying to make them fit, gave up, tossed out a weeks worth and will try again, I even tried trimming any little tiny bits in case I cut them wrong. If it goes wrong tomorrow at sewing I'll give up and try another pattern, it could be the different machine, maybe I should do some now and see if they turn out, then I can check the different seams tomorrow on the smaller Pfaff. 

HOLLY.......YOU ARE SO PRODUCTIVE I'M JEALOUS.  YOU DO GREAT WORK AND LOTS OF IT.  KEEP IT UP.  ITS A GREAT PASTIME AND PRODUCES SO MANY NICE THINGS FOR OTHERS AND YOURSELF.

TRISH......YES, THE SNACKS DO ME IN USUALLY.  I LOVE FOOD AND HOW IT TASTES AND SOMETIMES WHEN I MAKE SOMETHING IT TASTES SO GOOD I JUST HAVE TO EAT SECONDS WHILE ITS FRESH. I FEEL I DESERVE IT I GUESS.  AT 82 I'M ON THE HILL DOWNWARDS SO ITS NICE TO ENJOY THE TREK AS I GO.

CAROL......POOR YOU.   WHAT A MESS.  HOPE THE CITY HELPS CLEAN UP SOON.

MY SON WORKS ONLY HALF A DAY TODAY SO HE WILL GET MY GROCERIES AFTER ALL.  I MADE A TATER TOT CASSEROLE FOR HIM TO TAKE HOME EXCEPT FOR A BIT I'LL KEEP FOR MYSELF.  HE AND HIS WIFE LOVE IT, AS DOES MOST FOLKS WHO TRY IT HERE IN THE BUILDING.
AS FOR MY EATING PLAN, I LOST ANOTHER LB SO THAT'S GOOD.  I CHEATED A BIT IN THE EVENINGS BOTH NITES BUT ITS HARD NOT TO EAT THE USUAL SNACKS.  STILL, I ATE SPARINGLY OF THOSE, TOO.  AND DRINKING MORE WATER AND LESS SODA.

ANOTHER NICE MAINE DAY HERE IN THE HIGH 70S. WE GET 60S WF 50S AT NITE.  NO RAIN IN THE SKY TODAY.  JUST BLUE HEAVENS.
BE SAFE.  HUGS FOR ALL.  QB S  

Last edited by quiltbea (7/20/2024 9:59 am)

Cheryl- my bank also has coin machines for no charge.
  Paper straws? Yuck.  The places we go to use clear plastic straws that come in a sealed “sleeve”. 
   We got back from our 3 day trip mid afternoon yesterday so we went for an early dinner at a place nearby that we haven’t been to in a few years.  It was very good. 
We went to a quilt shop that calls itsel the largest quilt shop in VA?  I was underwhelmed.  I bought 2 yards of fabric that I could have bought anywhere.
   We actually went for the scenic Raikroad excursion which was very nice!

Judy, they pronounce it Am- ar- ee. When she was born I thought they’d shorten it to Ammy, but they liked Amary. It sounds very preppy to me, which is ok. I sent her a check for her birthday, of course the kids love getting money.

It’s going to rain any second. Last I looked, there were two teenage turkeys wandering around the yard. 

I felt like dippy eggs, so we had that with bacon and toast for dinner. Tomorrow is our local Legion’s monthly breakfast fundraiser. Ralph eats there and brings me takeout, I’m not up for going out to breakfast at 8 a.m. F and C had a better offer for lunch tomorrow, so I’m not sure what we’ll do. 

I just ordered a three different Halloween charm packs from the Fat Quarter shop to make table runners for my girls. 

Tracy had a pic up yesterday? That they took BJ and Frank out for ice cream. They both looked good.

Last edited by Holly in South Jersey (7/20/2024 3:47 pm)

Carol, what a mess...worse than I imagined. Have you thought about getting a solar power cell charger that will charge your phone when the power goes out? Some of the chargers will charge two at a time. 

Last night we had a LOT of rain. My backyard was flooded, but it goes away quickly. It was the most rain since I moved here almost 4 years ago.

I do NOT like paper straws, they hurt my teeth. It's like raking your nails across a chalkboard, lol! I have stacked up on enough plastic straws to last me my lifetime.

Trish, Greg and Carter are in Tucson golfing and doing other things. They flew into Phoenix (115 degrees), got a rental car and drove to Tuscon. Their cruise(s) are in September and November. Hope Warwick starts feeling better.

Judy, lovely summer weather? Not here! I'm ready for summer to be over. Too hot to do anything and I know, I know...we always complain when it's too hot and again, when it's too cold, lol.  I enjoy estate sales, but haven't been to one in years.

I meant to go to Walmart today, but I never made it. Still making a list, lol. 

Cheryl, I meant to comment on Temu. I ordered some earrings from them. Some are nice, some were not. Gary got Sadie Grace some cute tee shirts from them. There's a lawsuit against them, so I deleted their app. Funny how you can't go to Temu.com and order, but only from their app?? 

Last edited by DownSouth (7/20/2024 4:07 pm)